Debate over health care repeal: five gauges of House civility

Wednesday’s vote to repeal health care reform provided a formidable test of whether lawmakers are adopting a more civil tone.

4. Less yelling

Charles Dharapak/AP
House Speaker-designate John Boehner of Ohio greets House members during the first session of the 112th Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 5.

During last year’s health-care debate, then-minority leader Boehner’s exclamations of “hell no” scored a 10. But the volume of the repeal debate never got much beyond a 7 or 8. Rep. Pete Stark (D) of California, no stranger to strong words, kept his remarks to a monotone.

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